Can opener



C. A. MCKUNE Feb. 26, '1935.

CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 27, 1934 Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN OPENER Cli fiord A. McKune, San Francisco, Calif. Application February 27, 1934, Serial No. 713,173

3 Claims. (01. 164120) This invention relates to improvements in can punching devices and has particular reference to a device for punching milk containing cans and the like and to provide therein an air vent and opening for dispensing the can contents.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an economically constructed device that will effectively accomplish the punching operation on cans of varying heights.

A further object is to produce a device whic is self-supporting.

A still further object is to produce a device which is economical to manufacture and one which is simple to manipulate.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part. of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my preferred form of device,

Fig. 2 is a'fragmentary plan view of my de-,

vice as viewed from the right of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of my modified form of device,

Fig. 4 is a. cross sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a front plan view of my device, and

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

With some types of cans, particularly those containing liquid, it is often customaryto puncture holes in the top of the can in order to pour the contents therefrom. Applicant has, therefore, devised a simple mechanism for accomplishing the punching operation.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a plate having a foot portion 6. This plate 5 has its vertical margins bent so as to form a channel in which a slider 'l is movable. This slider 7 carries an offset punch 8 which is in alignment with the top of the can to be opened, the can being shown at A in Fig. 1. An opening 9 is formed in the plate 5, one side of the opening being provided with teeth 11 which are engaged by the teeth 12 of a gear pivotally secured to the slider '7. This gear is rotated by a thumb piece 13 with the result that the slider 7 will move up or down with respect to the plate 5 when the thumb piece is rotated in either direction.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 3 the same numerals have been applied, the only difference being that a lever 14 having teeth 16, which engages the teeth 11 has been substituted for the thumb piece 13 and gear 12 previously described.

The operation of the modified form is somewhat different in that the lever is swung to a substantially vertical position so as to disengage the teethlfi from the teeth 11. At this time the slider 7 may be raised until the punch 8 is above the top of the can, after which the plate is lowered until the punch engages the top of the can. The lever 14 is now rotated about its pivot with the result that the teeth 16 will again engage the teeth 11 and cause a downward sliding action of the plate 7 and the consequent punching of the can.

It will thus be seen that with either of the devices, a can may be placedupon the foot plate 6 and by manipulating the thumb piece 13 or lever 14 the punch will be forced downwardly into and through the ,top of the can. By rotating the can a part revolution a second punching operation may be accomplished if desired.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

1. In a can opening device, a slotted plate having a foot piece, the edges of said plate being bent to form guide channels, a slider carried by the channels and movable relative to said plate, teeth formed in the slotted section of said plate, actuating means carried by said slider, said actuating means including a lever having teeth capable of engaging said teeth formed on said plate, and an offset punch carried by said slider and capable of engaging the top of a can mounted on said foot piece.

2. A can punching device comprising a slotted plate bent upon itself to form a slideway and having a rack formed therein, a slider movably guided in said plate, and means including a toothed lever carried by said slider and cooperating with said rack for accomplishing the sliding movement between said plate and said slider, and a punch carried by said slider.

3. A can punching device comprising a slotted plate bent upon itself to form a slideway and being provided with a foot piece, a rack formed in said plate, a slider movably guided in said plate, and a geared lever carried by said slider and cooperating with said plate rack for accomplishing the sliding movement between said plate and said slider, and a punching'element positioned above said foot piece and adapted to penetrate a can positioned thereon upon actuation of said slider. f

I CLIFFORD A. MCKUNE. 

